From four penalties in the first period, the Sabres were never able to keep up with the Ducks. Anaheim came in and dominated the entire contest, leaving with a 5-1 victory over the Sabres.
“Sometimes if you have nothing good to say it’s better to not say too much,” Ted Nolan said. “That was like an NHL team playing a peewee team.”
An onslaught of penalties in the opening period gave the Ducks several opportunities. After taking four penalties and being outshot 17-3, Corey Perry broke things open this a wrist shot past Michal Neuvirth to put the Ducks on top.
Michal Neuvirth got the start in goal for the first time this season and stopped 39 of 44 shots in the loss, but knew that he needed to be better.
“I felt good, but five goals is a lot and I need to be better,” Neuvirth said.
William Karlsson had a game to remember, notching his first and second NHL goals of his career. Tyler Ennis scored the lone goal for Buffalo with the help of Matt Moulson behind the net, breaking the shutout in the third period. This was also Moulson’s 400th NHL game.
Ryan Kesler was awarded a penalty shot after getting hauled down on a breakaway in the third period, and the former Canuck beat Neuvirth and made it 5-1.
The Sabres were in danger of setting a franchise low for shots in a game when they had seven after 40 minutes of play, but they managed to finish with 12. They had just 11 in a game against the Bruins on December 3rd, 1981.
“You just try to shoot the puck down the ice 15 times, you might hit the net 10 times,” Nolan said. “It was bad.”
Prior the the game, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the Sabres will host the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at the First Niagara Center. Him and Ted Black also welcomed the idea of Buffalo hosting an All-Star Game, as well as an outdoor game in the future.
The Sabres will head to Carolina to pay a visit to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. That game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on MSG.